David Penson, M.D., MPH, Paul V. Hamilton, M.D., and Virginia E. Howd Professor of Urologic Oncology and chair of the Department of Urologic Surgery, has been named an associate editor for The Journal of the National Cancer Institute (JNCI).
The JNCI publishes peer-reviewed original research from around the world and is internationally recognized for its up-to-date news and information from the fields of cancer research and treatment. For the past several years, the JNCI has been ranked as one of the most-cited original research cancer journals by the Institute of Scientific Information in its annual “Journal Citation Reports.”
“I am honored by the invitation to serve as an associate editor alongside the journal’s highly respected editorial team,” said Penson. “The JNCI is renowned for the quality and impact of the peer-reviewed content which serves as a roadmap for cancer therapy and research.”
Penson, who also serves as director of the Center for Surgical Quality and Outcomes Research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), earned his medical degree from Boston University, followed by a fellowship in Clinical Epidemiology and Health Services Research as part of the Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program at Yale University School of Medicine, where he also received a Master of Public Health degree.
In 2014 he earned a Master of Management in Healthcare from Vanderbilt’s Owen Graduate School of Management.
Penson started his career as assistant professor of Urology at the University of Washington and affiliate investigator at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle.
He was recruited to the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California where he was named associate professor of Urology and Preventive Medicine.
He joined the Vanderbilt faculty in 2009 as a professor of Urologic Surgery and Medicine and also serves as a faculty member at the VA Tennessee Valley Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center.
He is board-certified as a urologic oncologist and focuses on urological malignancies, particularly bladder and prostate cancer.
Penson is co-leader of the Cancer Control and Health Outcomes Program for Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and serves as medical director for the Vanderbilt Urology Clinic.
He was awarded the Hamilton and Howd chair in 2013 and was named chair of the Department of Urologic Surgery in 2015.
Penson has received numerous awards throughout his distinguished career, including the American Urological Association (AUA) Gold Cystoscope Award, the Boston University School of Medicine Distinguished Alumnus Award, Urology Care Foundation Distinguished Scholar Alumnus Award and AUA Distinguished Service Award.
In addition to treating patients and serving in numerous leadership roles, Penson is a prolific researcher and is principal investigator for several federally funded research initiatives. He has published more than 250 peer-reviewed publications and is in demand internationally as a speaker and research reviewer.
